Loose-leaf binder.



J. O. DAWSON & T. B. HEETBR; Loosn LEAF 11111111111.

APPLIOATION FILED OOT.24, 1910.

986,910, Patented Ma1-.14,1911.

R 2 "I 7? r12 27249,; C ZbM U I an d as) flomasfrieef'n small books ofthe kind commonly UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. DAWSON, OF WEBSTER GROVES, AND THOMAS E. HEETER, OF ST. LOUIS,MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS T0 SIEBELR & TRUSSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A

QORPOBATION OF MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 24, 1910. Serial No. 588,909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES C. DAWSON and THOMAS E. Hnn'rnn, citizens ofthe United States, and residents, respectively, of Webster Groves,county of St. Louis, State of Missouri, and of the city of St. Louis,State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLoose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification, and whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to that type of binders in which the sheet-holdingprongs are substantially semi-circular in form and are so mounted uponthe back of the cover that they may be held in either the open or closedposition by the action of a s ring acting upon a pair of plates to whicthe prongs are directly aliixed.

The object of the invention is to generally improve upon binders of thistype; to provide a more secure and stable construction; improved meansfor opening the prongs, and im roved means for securing the binder mecianism to the back of the cover.

The invention consists in a structuresueh asis hereinafter described,and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is adetail pers ective of the binder, one of the covers eing thrown back.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the binder mechanism removed from the cover andbeing shown pa'rtly in section; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal centralsectional view of the binder mechanism as applied to the back of thecover;'Fig.-4 is a sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig; 3; Fig. 5 isa detail in perspective of the binder mechanism, some ofthe parts beingremoved; Fi 6 is a detail in perspective of the plate Tor securing thebinder mechanism ,to the cover; Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of apair of impaling prongs;- Fig. 8 shows a detail of the impaling prongs,embodying a modified form of construction; and Fig. 9 is a detail of theprong-carrying plates with the prongs removed.

The binder is especially adapfled for own in the art as price books. Thebook corriprises a pair of cover plates 10, 11, which may be of anysuitable material, such as leather, cloth, or board, being here shown aslimp, the two cover plates being united by a flexible back 12.

The binder mechanism comprises a spring plate 13 transversely bowed andhaving its side edges inturned, as shown at 14, 15, to form channels forreceiving the outer edges of a pair of prong-carrying plates 16, 17 theinner edges of which are adjacent and substantially in contact. Thecombined width of the plates 16, 17, is greater than the normal distancebetween the channels, at the margins of the plate 13 within which theyrest.

Impaling prongs arranged in pairs, as many pairs being employed asdesired, are carried by the plates 16, 17. These prongs 18, 19, aresemi-circular in form, and the members of each pair are pivotedtogether, as shown at 20, their free ends being notched so as to matetogether, as shown at 21. Each prong is notched in its outer face, andnear its heel, as shown at 22, to receive the edge of the carrying plateupon which it is mounted, this notch extendin across the outer face ofthe prong and along its side faces toward its heel. The plates 16, 17,are notched at their inner edges, as shown at 23, the width of the notchbeing such that its lateral margins enter the side portions of the notch22 in the prong, the transverse margin of this notch receiving the innermargin of the notch 23. The joint thus formed between the prong and theplate makes a close fit, the prong being held ri 'dly upon the plate,the engagement 0 the lateral margins of the notch 23 with the lateralextensions of the notch 22 materially contributing to the stability withwhich they prong is held in place. The pivot pin 24 uniting the prongsof each pair preferably extends some distance beyond the prong membersin each direction, its outer ends being bent downwardly and flattenedsomewhat, as shown at 25. The plates 16, 17, are recessed, as shown at26, to provide clearance for the straight portions of the. pivotter.ly1ng below the inner surfaces of the plates.

The prongs 18, 19, are swung on their pivots by the rocking of theplates 16, 17,

within t 1e marginal channels of the spring late 13. When the prongs areclosed the inner edges of the carrying plates incline inwardly towardthe bowed spring plate,

in 24; the flattened ends of the lat- 7 associated with each of the capplates 27, 28,:

shown in solid lines in Fig. 4. When the prongs are open the carryingplates incline outwardly, as shown in dottedlines in the same'figure.The flattened ends of the pivots 24: limit the outward movement of theplates 16 and 17.

Caps 27, 28, are fitted upon the ends of the spring platef13, andsecured thereto by any suitable means, such as lugs upon one of themembers passing through apertures in the other, each cap having aninstanding flange 29 which projects slightly over the ends of thecarrying plates 16, 17, and may serve as means for limiting their upwardmovement. An L-shaped lifting lever 30is one of its arms 31 projectingthrough an aperture therein, its other arm normally extending upwardlyagainst the face of the cap. A leaf spring 32 is rigidly secfired at oneend to the spring plate 13, its free end bearing against the upper faceof the in standing arm 31 of the lever, thereby holding the outer arm ofthe lever upright, as

of the binder. of inwardly offset and longitudinally diplainly shown inthe drawing. This leafspring may be secured to the member 13 in anysuitable manner; as shown, this is accomplished by striking up from suchmember a lip 43 which enters a slot in the spring,

and is then folded or clenched down. Pres-v sure upon the arm 31 of thelever to throw it backwardly or outwardly forces the spring 32 upwardlyagainst the plates 16 and 17, and raises their inner edges for thepurpose of separating the prongs. When the pressure upon the lever armis relieved, the spring returns it to its normal position. The prongs orarches are closed by pressure upon the members of any pair thereof.

A base plate 33 is bound into theback 12 This plate has a pluralityrected lugs 34, 35, 36, preferably formed by being punched up from thestock ofthe plate. The spring plate 13 is apertured to receive theselugs, as shown.- at 3'2,v 38, 39. The binder mechanism is. secured tothis back plate by fitting it thereto in such manner that the lugs 34,35, 36, enter the apertures 37 38, 39, respectively, the spring platethen being moved longitudinally to the position shown in Fig. *3. A spritongue 40 is struck up from the body of tli and has an upturnedend 41,adapted to enter one of the apertures, as 39, inthe plate 13 when thelatter is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby locking itperma- 'nently in this position.

Should it be desired to remove the binding mechanism from the cover, theplates 16, 17, are first drawn out endwise from the plate 13, givingaccess to the locking mechanism just described. By forcing. downwardlythe spring ton e 40 the plate 13 may be moved longitudi nally todisengage e plate 33,

eeemo it from the securing lugs. As shown, and preferably, the-springtongue 40 is covered by one of the springs 31, and in order to provideaccess to it for the purpose'of disengagement, the spring 32 may beprovided with an aperture 512 through which a tool maybe inserted. j p

In lieu of the elongated piv ots\25 01 uniting the mating prongs, a studpivot43 may be struck up from the stock of one of the prongs, anaperture being formed in the other to receive 1t. When this constructionisfollowed the opening movement of the prongs is limited either bycontact of the plates 16, 17, with the instanding flanges of the cups27,28, or the joints of the prongs may be shouldered, the shoulders ofthe twoprongs meeting when the prongs are opened to the desired extent.

We claim as our invention 1. In a loose leaf binder, in combination,"

a pair of plates arranged edge to edge and notched in their adjacentedges, mating prongs carried, respectively; by the plates and securedthereto by means of notches adj acent their heel portions, such notchescrossing the outer faces of the prongs and extending laterally towardtheir heels and tightly receiving the marginal edges of the platenotches, a spring urging the plates toward each other, and means forlimiting the inclination of the plates to separate-the meeting ends ofthe prongs.

2. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of plates arrangededge to edge and notched in their adjacent edges, mating prongs carried,respectively, by the plates and secured thereto by means of notchesadjacent their heel portions, such notches crossing the outer faces ofthe prongs and ex-.

tending laterally toward their heels and tightly receiving the marginaledges of'the plate notches,'a spring urging the plates toward eachother, apivot pin uniting the heels of cooperating prongs and beingprolonged beyond the prongs and having an end inclined downwardly andengageable with the; faces of the plates to limit their upwardinclination. i

3. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of plates arrangededge to edge and lll notched in their adjacent edges, mating prongscarried respectively by the plates and secured thereto by means ofnotches ad-- jacent their heel portions, such notches crossing theouter'faces of'the prongs and extending laterally toward their heels andtightly receiving the marginal edges ofthe plate notches, a springurging the plates toward each other, a pivot pin uniting the heels ofcooperating prongs and being prolonged beyond the prongs and having anend inclined downwardly and flattened and engageable with the; faces ofthe plates to limit their upward inclination.

4. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of plates arrangededge to edge and notched in their adjacent edges, mating prongs carriedrespectively by the plates and secured thereto by means of notches adjacent their heel portions, such notches crossing the outer faces of theprongs and extending laterally toward their heels and tightly receivingthe marginal edges of the plate notches, a bowed spring bearing upon theouter edges of the plates, and means for limiting the inclination of theplates to sep arate the meeting ends of the prongs.

5. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of plates arrangededge to edge and notched in their adjacent edges, mating prongs carriedrespectively by the plates and secured thereto by means of notchesadjacent their heel portions, such notches crossing the outer faces ofthe prongs and extending laterally toward their heels and tightlyreceiving the marginal edges of. the plate notches, a bowed spring platehaving its edges bearing upon the outer edges of the first-named plates,an apertured cap fitted to the end of the spring plate, an L-shapedlever having one of its arms projecting through the aperture of the cap,a spring urging such lever arm toward the spring plate, and means forlimiting the inclination of the plates to separate the meeting ends ofthe prongs.

6. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of plates arrangededge to edge and notched in their ad'acent edges,- mating prongs carriedrespectively by the plates and secured thereto by means of notchesadjacent their heel portions, s'uch notches crossing the outer faces ofthe prongs and extending laterally toward their heels and tightlyreceiving the marginal edges of the plate notches, abowed spring platehaving its edges hearing upon-the outer edges of the first-named plates,an apertured cap fitted t0 the end of the spring plate, an L-sha edlever having one of its arms projecting t rough the aperture of the cap,a spring urging such lever arm toward the sprln plate, a leaf springattached to the bowe spring and bearing upon the lever arm, and meansfor limiting the inclination of the plates to separate the meeting endsof the prongs.

7. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a base plate havingupstandinglongitudinally-projecting lugs, a bowed spring plate apertured to engagethe lugs, a detent for holding the two plates in en holdin "agement, andleaf-carrying means supported by the spring late. p 8. In a loose leafbinder, in combination, abase plate having upstanding longitudinallyprojecting lugs, a bowed spring plate apertured -to engage the lugs, adetent for the two plates in engagement, -a pair 0 plates arranged edgeto edge and having their outer edges engaged by the marginal portions ofthe spring plate, and mating prongs carried by the pair of plates. 9. Ina loose leaf binder, in combination, a base plate having upstandinglongitudinally projecting lugs, a bowed spring plate apertured to engagethe lugs, a detent for holding the two plates in engagement, a pair ofplates arranged edge to edge and having their outer edges engaged by themarginal portions of the spring plate, mating prongs carried by the pairof plates, a lever mounted on the spring plate and acting upon the innerfaces of 'the air of plates.

10. In a loose eaf binder, in combination, a base plate havingupstanding longitudinally projecting lugs, a bowed spring plateapertured to en age the lugs, a detent for holding the two plates inengagement, :1 pair of lates arranged edge to edge and having t eirouter edges engaged by the marginal'portions of the spring plate, matingprongs carried by the pair of plates, a lever mounted on the springplate and acting upon the inner faces of the pair of plates, and a leafspring secured to the bowed late and projecting between the lever andthe pair of plates.

11. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a base plate havingupstanding and longitudinally projecting lugs and an upstanding springtongue, a bowed spring plate apertured to receive the lugs and springtongue, a pair of plates arranged edge to edge and having their outeredges engaged by the marginal portions of the spring plate, matingprongs carried by thepair of plates, alever carried by the bowed platefor urging the pair of plates upwardly, and a leaf spring secured to thebowed spring plate and bearing upon the lever to retract it, such leafspring coverin the spring tongue.

-- J ES C. DAWSON.

THOMAS E. HEETER. Witnesses:

F. W. BISQUE, FRED Corrman.

